Steam-boiler feeder



(No Model.)

O. A. BIOKARD.

STEAM BOILER FEEDER.

No. 313,954. Patented Mar. 17, 1885.

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' um m "'IHIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIII INVBNTOR 6% Q BY ATTORNEY N. PETERS,Pnnm-ulho n hen'wmi an NITED STATES PATENT tribe- CLYDE A. RIGKARD, OFOTTAWA, KANSAS.

STEAM-BOILER FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,95*-, da.ted March17, 1885.

Application filed May 16, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLYDE A. RICKARD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Franklin and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Boiler f Feeders, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of steamboiler feeders in which thewater is fed from a tank or reservoir by gravity; and it consists in thepeculiar construction and arrangement and combinations of parts,hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boilerwith portions broken away, showing my improveme'ntsattached. Figs. 2 and3 are details showing the construction of modifications of the piston.

A represents a furnace, and B a boiler located within the same, both ofwhich may be of any well-known construction; but for my purpose I preferasheet-metal furnace and a spiral tube, as shown.

A is a reservoir or tank, the upper and lower portions of which areconnected with the steamand water space of the boiler B, re-.spectively.

O O are theheads, connected to the main body of the reservoir by boltsor rivets, a steampacking being inserted between the parts to make aclose joint.

D is an escape-vent connected to the head 0, and provided with a valve,(1.

E is a supply-pipe attached to the lower part of the tank A, and has asuitable valve. 6.

P is a piston fitting steam-tight within the tank, the rod 12 of whichextends within the tube F, and is guided therein by the ribs f,extending inwardly from the casting F, which is secured to the head 0,and receives the end of the tube F. This piston is provided with packingG, and with automatic exit H, for the water of condensation, which, asshown in Fig. 2, consists of a siphon, S, the long leg of which extendsbelow the head, while the shorter limb enters a recess, I, formed withinthe head.

Fig. 2 shows a fioating piston, which may be made of wood, while Fig. 3shows a floating metallicpiston, whose interior may be filled with somelight material, J, that is a bad conductor of heat, or it may have acoating, j, of plaster-of-paris or other bad conductor on its top.

In practice, when more water is required, the valves d and 6 beingopened and the valves and b closed,'water is fed in through Eand fillsthe tank A, and causes the piston to rise to the position as shown, theair above the piston escaping through the pipe D. When the tank isfilled and the valves (1 and e closed and the valves f and I) opened,the water passes to the boiler 13, and is there converted into steam, anequilibrium being established in the tank through the connectionsalready described. A pipe, M, connected to the free end of the T-shapedcasting L, attached to the outer end of the coil B, conveys the steamfrom the boiler to be applied for cooking, heating, motive power, or anypurpose for which steam is applicable.

It will be seen that by my construction a cheap and simple apparatus isproduced that can be applied to many purposessuch as for cooking feed,heating, furnishing motive power, (he.

My peculiar arrangement of the steam-tight piston prevents the steamcoming in contact with the cool water, and thus prevents condensation,and the non-conducting material prevents the rapid condensation causedby the contact with the surface of the cool piston, and thus much fuelis saved which is lost by the usual construction, where the steam comesin direct contact with the water and a piston cooled by the water belowit.

I am aware of E. Gampbells Patent No. 2,233, dated August 28, 1841, andmake no claim to anything shown therein.

What I claim is- 1. In combination with a steam-boiler, a reservoirprovided with steam and water spaces in direct communication with thesteam and water spaces of the boiler, respectively, and a piston workingsteam-tight in said reservoir for separating the two elements within thesame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a steam-boiler and its reservoir, 21 steam-tightpiston fitting with in said reservoir, and provided with an autoas andfor the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the reservoir A and In testimony whereofI affixmy signature, in the steam-tight piston P, the siphon S and represenceoftwo Witnesses, this 12th day of May, IO eess I, substantially as andfor the purpose 1884;.

5 4. In combination with the reservoir A, GL1 DE RICKARD' piston P, androd 19, the casting F, provided *Witnesses: with the ribs f,substantially as and for the O. O. MEOHEM,

purpose specified. I. E. MEOI-IEM.

